Grenspark grows: new foundation as springboard for new collaborations

Today, Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide took an important step towards the future. During a festive gathering at the Keienhof in Kalmthout, the establishment of the Grenspark Kalmthoutse Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide Foundation was celebrated and the new chairman was welcomed. Lukas Jacobs, mayor of Kalmthout, succeeds Martin Groffen, who is handing over the chairmanship after seven years.

Photo: Martin Groffen hands over the gavel to Lukas Jacobs

Martin Groffen says goodbye after seven years of chairmanship.
"It has been a very nice period as chairman of this beautiful area. Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide is an enormously fascinating partnership with many stakeholders. I look back with satisfaction on the results achieved together. The Master Plan gives the partnership a blueprint for working together very concretely. The Foundation of Public Utility that was christened today also creates the necessary structure to continue working in a professional manner."

The Master Plan was drawn up in 2023 in response to the new policy programme National Parks in the Netherlands and the Flemish Government's call for candidate areas National Parks Flanders. Because of concerns from owners and farmers, it was decided by the partnership in 2023 not to submit a candidate dossier as National Park Flanders. On the Dutch side, Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide has long been part of the 21 National Parks.

Martin Groffen thanks the partners of Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide:
"I especially express my appreciation to the parties who sat around the table with me to make the decisions that ensure the preservation of our area. So many different interests and yet each time taking a supported common position, I am happy to have been part of that. The employees of Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide have also impressed me a lot with their dedication to their tasks. I will gladly return to this area."

New foundation, new opportunities: Grenspark strengthens basis for partnership

Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide is an alliance of authorities, municipalities, nature managers and private owners on both sides of the Belgian-Dutch border. Together we strive for conservation, unity, a shared vision and commitment.

"The establishment of the foundation gives the Grenspark more clout," said new chairman Lukas Jacobs. "We are now in a better position to implement the Masterplan Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide. We are focusing on three priorities: strengthening top nature, sustainable tourism and a high-quality landscape with due attention to, for example, the region's military heritage. At the same time, this structure opens the door for new partners and municipalities that want to join our cross-border cooperation. This is also an explicit objective in the Master Plan. With the new Public Utility Foundation, we put ourselves in position to grow this step by step and from the bottom up."

As mayor of Kalmthout, Lukas Jacobs has been part of the Special Commission since 2001 and therefore knows the partnership inside out. From that experience, he now takes up the chairmanship.

Structure of the Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide

The Special Commission is the substantive consultative body in which all partners of Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide are represented. Together, they determine the direction and content of the cooperation.

The members of the Special Commission are currently: Agency for Nature and Forests, Flemish Environment Agency - Water Department, Waterschap Brabantse Delta, Staatsbosbeheer, Vereniging Natuurmonumenten, Natuurpunt, Ministry of Defence (NL) represented via Rijksvastgoedbedrijf, Representation of private nature owners from Flanders and the Netherlands, Municipality of Kalmthout, Municipality of Essen, Municipality of Stabroek, Municipality of Woensdrecht, City of Antwerp Berendrecht-Zandvliet-Lillo district, Evides Waterbedrijf, Agency for Immovable Heritage, the Secretariat General of the Benelux Union (advisory).

The Foundation of Public Utility Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide serves the partnership. The Foundation is headed by director-director Jan Weverbergh and has a professional team of 4.5 FTEs. They organise consultation and knowledge exchange, vision creation with the partners and project coordination for implementation projects.

An independent Supervisory Board monitors the operation of the Foundation and helps ensure the transparent, targeted and legitimate spending of funds. The Supervisory Board consists of Cathy Berx (also governor of the Province of Antwerp), Kees Jan de Vet (retired - formerly Dijkgraaf Waterschap Brabantse Delta), Helga Van der Veken (retired, board member WWF), Prof. Sigrid De Bois (UAntwerpen - Environmental Law), Martin Groffen (former independent chairman Grenspark).

Photo: members of the Foundation Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide during a festive inauguration ceremony.

Inspiring projects and vision for the future

During a festive and informative meeting, we looked back at the results achieved and looked ahead to where we want to go together. We also showed what inspiring projects we are working on.

Grenspark is currently working on nature improvement by setting up a phosphate filter on the border of Flanders and the Netherlands.

Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide is also currently working with other parks in the Netherlands, France and Germany on sustainable tourism as part of the Interreg MONA project.

The establishment of the foundation marks a new step in the development of the Grenspark. It strengthens cooperation across the border and offers new opportunities for nature, recreation, education and residents.

Background:

Long history, strong partnership

Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide already has a long tradition of cooperation. Already in 1987, in cooperation with local parties and with the support of the Benelux, cooperation was started in this area. Systematically, the partnership has been strengthened and professionalised. In 2011, the partnership also welcomed the Ravenhof and Volksabdij area. Thus, Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide is today a robust, contiguous area of 6,000ha. It is one of the largest and also one of the most diverse nature reserves in both Flanders and the Netherlands.

Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide works with various partners to strengthen nature and enhance the visitor experience. For nature, important work has been coordinated in the past in connection with restoring land dunes and restoring habitat for the heath butterfly, among others. There has also been intensive cooperation for the recreational visitor. Many people find their way through the uniform signposting of walking routes and MTB routes on both sides of the border and in cooperation with the various owners and site managers.

Photos: Roxanne Danckers